VOLUNTEERS who have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for equipment for patients and nursing staff at Felixstowe's hospitals will this weekend hold their annual summer fete.

VOLUNTEERS who have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for equipment for patients and nursing staff at Felixstowe's hospitals will this weekend hold their annual summer fete.

The League of Friends of the General and Bartlet Hospitals holds a number of fund-raising events throughout the year – including hot lunches, cream teas, a musicology evening and a quiz night.

But the summer fete – which takes place on Saturday afternoon – is the most important and always very popular.

It is held in the grounds of the Bartlet Hospital and Mayor of Felixstowe, councillor Don Smith, will open the event at 1.30pm.

Visitors may enter via Bath Hill or Brook Lane and admission is 30p.

There will be a number of stalls, including bric-a-brac, fancy goods, a tombola and games stalls.

To "name the bear", "guess the weight of the cake", or buying a ticket for the grand draw could earn visitors one of many prizes on offer.

Off-duty Felixstowe General and Bartlet night and day ward staff will also be on site to man various stalls, and there will also be assorted refreshments, including ice cream and a barbecue.

Money raised by the League of Friends, or donated or bequeathed to the group, has been spent on a host of items ranging from electrically-operated beds and accessories to x-ray equipment – much of it could not have otherwise been provided because of the severe budget restrictions facing the NHS.

Almost every week a request is made, agreed upon and purchased.

Over the last two years the league has bought medical aids and equipment worth around £33,000. Latest requests included exercise equipment for the physiotherapy department and a digital ambulatory ECG recorder.

The next fund raising event will be the September 4 musicology evening and tickets will be available at the summer fete.